INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN

Prayer Points

June 4, 2004

Iran: On May 23^rd, Iranian police arrested Pastor Khosroo Yusefi, along with his wife, Nasrin, and two teenage children.  The family remains imprisoned in Chalous without known charges. “The police have found out that people have come to Christ in that city, that’s all,” an Iranian Christian states.  Reportedly dozens of believers from Yusefi’s church were jailed in the first week of May and later released. However, Pastor Yusefi’s arrest marks the first time that the entire family of a Christian leader has been taken into custody.  Pray the Iranian government will release Pastor Yusefi and his family quickly.  Pray the family will be kept together and grow in their love and faith for the Lord.  Pray many prisoners and guards will come to Christ by their witness.

Indonesia: Fery Silalahi, a Christian prosecutor working on the Bali bombing case has been assassinated in Central Sulawesi.  He had been working on keeping three men imprisoned who were responsible for the bombing, and were members of Jemaah Islamiah (JI), a radical Islamic group that is responsible for thousands of Christian deaths in Indonesia.  Although police have not named any suspects, it is assumed it is a JI killing. The assassins shot him in his car in Palu and then fled on two motorcycles.  While many Christians have died in the Sulawesi violence, Silalahi is the first high profile Christian to be killed.  Pray God will protect the Indonesian Christians.  Pray for the outpouring of God’s love and mercy on the Christians so that they will not attempt to retaliate.  Pray that the three JI bombers and Fery’s murderers will come to know the love of the Lord.
 
Pakistan: Samuel Masih, a Christian that was attacked by a policeman with a hammer for blasphemy has died. He had been admitted to Lahore General Hospital with probable brain damage, but when our representatives went to visit him, the police blocked the way.  The policeman reportedly had told people that he attacked Samuel to "gain a place in paradise" and that he had “done his religious duty.”  This is only the latest in a long string of attacks on Christians for "blasphemy".  President Musharraf has introduced legislation that would abolish the blasphemy laws. He has done this at great danger to himself.  Pray for protection and courage for President Musharraf and the legislators to pass this bill.  Pray the Holy Spirit will convict the policeman leading him to repentance.  Pray the Lord will bring comfort to Samuel’s family and friends.

Sudan: A historic peace accord was signed on May 26th between the mainly Islamic Government of Sudan (GOS) and the Christian Southern Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM). This accord marks the end to a 20-year war that has taken the lives of over 1.5 million people. Pray that the GOS will be committed to the accord and will stop the killing taking place by militias in Darfur. Pray that Christians will be provided for and that their hearts will be healed.  Pray that resources will become available to allow the rebuilding of the church in southern Sudan.  Praise the Lord for this monumental peace accord and for the promise of peace for the Sudanese Christians.